At Petit Early Learning Journey we believe in providing wholesome and nutritious meals to support the growth and development of your child. A balanced diet supports children’s growth, cognitive development, and overall health. It provides them with the necessary energy and nutrients for their active lifestyle. We understand the importance of a balanced diet and the impact it has on their overall well-being. That is why we have a dedicated in-house chef who prepares healthy meals on site every day. Having an in-house chef and a commercial kitchen in each of our centres allows us to create customised meal plans that meet the specific nutritional requirements of each child. Our chefs understand the importance of using fresh, locally sourced ingredients to maximise the nutritional value of the meals.

Our in-house chef carefully plans and prepares meals that are not only delicious but also packed with essential nutrients. We focus on offering a variety of food groups, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins, and dairy products, to ensure a well-rounded diet for your child. Our menu is designed to cater to different dietary needs and preferences, including vegetarian and allergen-free options. We have partnered with the Commonwealth’s Department of Health’s initiative Feed Australia who supports the ongoing facilitation of menu’s that align with dietary guidelines and recommendations for children.

Which meals are included?

To make every day a little simpler, all of our meals are included in the daily fee.

Children will be offered the following on a daily basis:

  • Breakfast
  • Morning tea
  • Lunch
  • Afternoon tea
  • Late afternoon snack

Menu Development

Petit ELJ is a nut aware centre.

Our meals are made seasonally to ensure we use the freshest, highest quality ingredients.

Each day we aim to meet a significant amount of a child’s daily nutritional requirements.

Here are some sample seasonal menus:

Autumn/Winter Sample Menu – for the Warmer States

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Breakfast A selection of wholegrain cereals and toast with healthy spreads/toppings from the five food groups (prior to 8am)
Milk and Water
Morning Tea Fruit Platter-selection of 3 or more seasonal fruits Date Bread Fingers (DFO, VO) Fruit Platter-selection of
3 or more seasonal fruits
Mixed Berry Upside Down Cake ( DFO, VO) Fruit Platter-selection of
3 or more seasonal fruits
Beverages: Milk/Water (DFO Soy Milk)
Lunch Sausage and Tomato Pastabake (VO Vegetable Pasta Bake) Chicken Stroganoff w/ White Rice (VO Seasonal Veg) Mexican Pork w/ White Rice (VO Beans) Zucchini Slice w/ Fried Rice (VO No Ham/Bacon) Bolognaise Pie (VO Lentils)
0-12m: Vegetable Puree/mash (selection of two seasonal vegetables) or Lunch option (lumpy)
Afternoon Tea Apple Cinnamon and Muesli Muffins (DFO, VO) Fruit Platter – selection of 3 or more seasonal fruits (VO) Apple Crumble with Home-made custard (DFO,VO) Fruit and Vegetable Platter (DFO Dairy Free Cheese, VO) Assorted Wholemeal Sandwiches: Ham, Jam, Vegemite and Cheese (DFO Dairy Free Cheese, VO No Ham)
0-12months:  Plain Yoghurt or puree/mashed/poached fruit (DFO Soy Yoghurt) 0-12months: Plain Yoghurt or puree/mashed/poached veggies (DFO Soy Yoghurt) 0-12months: Plain Yoghurt or puree/mashed/poached veggies (DFO Whipped Avocado) 0-12months: Plain Yoghurt or puree/mashed/poached fruit (DFO Whipped Avocado) 0-12months: Plain Yoghurt or puree/mashed/poached fruit (DFO Soy Yoghurt)

Autumn/Winter Sample Menu – for the Cooler States

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Breakfast A selection of wholegrain cereals and toast with healthy spreads/toppings from the five food groups (prior to 8am)
Milk and Water
Morning Tea Fruit Platter-selection of 3 or more seasonal fruits Date Bread Fingers (DFO, VO) Fruit Platter-selection of
3 or more seasonal fruits
Mixed Berry Upside Down Cake ( DFO, VO) Fruit Platter-selection of
3 or more seasonal fruits
Beverages: Milk/Water (DFO Soy Milk)
Lunch Bolognaise Pie (VO Lentils) Chicken Stroganoff w/ White Rice (VO Seasonal Veg) Mexican Pork w/ White Rice (VO Beans) Zucchini Slice w/ Fried Rice (VO No Ham/Bacon) Pumpkin, Lentil & Noodle Soup (VO) with Wholemeal Toast
0-12m: Vegetable Puree/mash (selection of two seasonal vegetables) or Lunch option (lumpy)
Afternoon Tea Apple Cinnamon and Muesli Muffins (DFO, VO) Fruit and Vegetable Platter (DFO Dairy Free Cheese, VO) Apple Crumble with Home-made custard (DFO,VO) Fruit, Vegetable & Cheese Platter (DFO Dairy Free Cheese, VO) Assorted Wholemeal Sandwiches: Ham, Jam, Vegemite and Cheese (DFO Dairy Free Cheese, VO No Ham)
0-12months:  Plain Yoghurt or puree/mashed/poached fruit (DFO Soy Yoghurt) 0-12months: Plain Yoghurt or puree/mashed/poached veggies (DFO Soy Yoghurt) 0-12months: Plain Yoghurt or puree/mashed/poached veggies (DFO Whipped Avocado) 0-12months: Plain Yoghurt or puree/mashed/poached fruit (DFO Whipped Avocado) 0-12months: Plain Yoghurt or puree/mashed/poached fruit (DFO Soy Yoghurt)

Spring/Summer Sample Menu – for all States

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Breakfast A selection of wholegrain cereals and toast with healthy spreads/toppings from the five food groups (prior to 8am)
Milk and Water
Morning Tea Fruit Platter-selection of 3 or more seasonal fruits Date Bread Fingers (DFO, VO) Fruit Platter-selection of
3 or more seasonal fruits
Mixed Berry Upside Down Cake ( DFO, VO) Fruit Platter-selection of
3 or more seasonal fruits
Beverages: Milk/Water (DFO Soy Milk)
Lunch Chicken Korma Curry with Rice (VO Mixed Veg & DF) Rissoles, Mash Potato, Veg and Gravy (VO Mixed Veg) Crumbed Chicken, Salad and Corn Cobb (VO Falafal/Lentil Patties) Five Bean Stew with Pasta and Vegetable (VO) Mexican Mince and Beans with White Rice (VO Mexican Beans)
0-12m: Vegetable Puree/mash (selection of two seasonal vegetables) or Lunch option (lumpy)
Afternoon Tea Apple Scrolls with Home-made Custard (DFO dairy-free Muffins with Fresh Fruit) Fruit Platter- selection of 3 or more seasonal fruits. (VO) (DFO) Pumpkin & Date Muffins (DFO dairy-free Muffins) Fruit Platter and Yoghurt (DFO Soy Yoghurt) Banana Bread Fingers (DFO dairy-free Muffins)
0-12months:  Plain Yoghurt or puree/mashed/poached fruit (DFO Soy Yoghurt) 0-12months: Plain Yoghurt or puree/mashed/poached veggies (DFO Soy Yoghurt) 0-12months: Plain Yoghurt or puree/mashed/poached veggies (DFO Whipped Avocado) 0-12months: Plain Yoghurt or puree/mashed/poached fruit (DFO Whipped Avocado) 0-12months: Plain Yoghurt or puree/mashed/poached fruit (DFO Soy Yoghurt)

Where are menus posted?

Bi-weekly menus are displayed on the kitchen noticeboard.

Each menu is carefully designed to include an extensive array of important dietary nutrients required for a daily balanced diet.

Nut free zone

Petit ELJ is a ‘NUT FREE Zone’.

Traces of nuts may be highly dangerous to children who are allergic to them.

By eliminating these within the Centre, we protect those children who are allergic to nuts from accidental exposure to them.

Meal times

In addition to wholesome meals, we provide happy and productive meal times.

When we share meals at Petit, our time together:

  • Is relaxed and supervised
  • Encourages the development of positive attitudes toward food
  • Fosters healthy eating practices
  • Is pleasant and culturally appropriate
  • Encourages social interaction and learning

Children are also encouraged to drink water and milk throughout the day and other sweet drinks such as juices and cordials are not permitted within the Centre.

Recipes from Our Chefs

Chicken Fried Rice
Chef Terrence, Petit ELJ Kew

Rainbow Smoothie Popsicles
Chef Emily, Petit ELJ Coffs Harbour

Blueberry and Poppy Seed Overnight Oats
Chef Kamel, Petit ELJ Clifton Hill

Cauliflower Korma
Chef Sandeep, Petit ELJ Forest Hill

Feedback, suggestions and accommodations

Parents are invited to provide feedback or suggestions to our menus at any time.

We also make accomodations and adjustments based on the needs of your child.